KC Chiefs share new updates on health of WR Rashee Rice, RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire

No news might be good news at the moment when it comes to Rashee Rice’s knee injury.

The standout Chiefs receiver was injured in the first quarter of Kansas City’s 17-10 victory at the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. His right knee smashed into quarterback Patrick Mahomes after Mahomes had thrown and interception and both players were attempting to make a play on the return.

Initially the thought was perhaps Rice, who was carted off the field, had suffered an ACL injury. That was before he had been examined by doctors. That diagnosis hasn’t been dismissed, but it also hasn’t been confirmed.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Thursday that Rice will undergo additional tests next week, once the swelling in his knee has diminished. Reid was asked if he was more optimistic about Rice’s recovery now than he was earlier in the week.

“Lets just wait and see where we’re at,” the coach said. “For his sake, we’re really hoping that things work out for the best. Let’s just see where it goes and leave it up to the doctors.”

Rice, in his second NFL season, was walking in the Chiefs’ locker room on Thursday with his right leg in a full sleeve. He wasn’t using crutches.

Rice got off to a hot start this season, leading the Chiefs with 24 receptions and 288 yards and sharing the team lead with two touchdown receptions.

Mahomes said he wasn’t sure what happened immediately after the play.

“I didn’t noticed in the moment,” Mahomes said. “I was more worried about trying to get the ball, trying to make a play.”

Then he learned about the collision between his helmet and Rice’s knee.

“When I saw the replay, I felt like ... ‘I hit Rashee,’” Mahomes said. “I wasn’t worried about myself. I was worried about his injury and hopefully it wasn’t as bad as it looked because i was the one that hit him.”

After Rice left Sunday’s game, rookie Xavier Worthy became a featured target. He hauled in a 54-yard pass for a touchdown and was on the receiving end of the game-clinching play, a 15-yard gain on third-and-6 with two minutes remaining that allowed the Chiefs to take a knee on the final snaps.

The Chiefs’ tight ends also came up big Sunday. Travis Kelce had his best game of the season, with seven receptions for 89 yards, and Noah Gray caught a career-best four passes for 40 yards.

For now, other receivers — such as Justin Watson and JuJu Smith-Schuster — are like to take on bigger roles in Rice’s absence.

“Rashee has had a phenomenal year, but unfortunately in this league injuries happen, and life goes on,” Reid said. “We always expect the next guys to step up and roll. It’s no different now.

“There’s not another Rashee, but there are guys that are very, very good. We’ll be fine.”

Clyde Edwards-Helaire update

Running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire returned to practice Thursday for the first time since he was placed on the non-football illness list after dealing with recurring PTSD.

Wednesday started a 21-day practice window for Edwards-Helaire, and the Chiefs will have that time to decide whether to activate him ... or shut him down.

“We’ll get him back in the swing of things and see how he does over the next couple of days,” Reid said.